Previous code

This biotope occurred in previous versions of the classification as:CGS.AfilEcor - Version: 96.7

Distribution of habitat SS.SMu.CSaMu.AfilMysAnit Amphiura filiformis, Mysella bidentata and Abra nitida in circalittoral sandy mud, based on records on the UK Marine Recorder database and EUSeaMap. Red dots represent records on which the biotope is based. Blue dots show other certain records, black dots show records tentatively assigned to this biotope. Yellow areas show level 2 and 3 sublittoral and deep-sea habitats prediced by EUSeaMap within UK waters.

Biotope description

Cohesive sandy mud off wave exposed coasts with weak tidal streams can be characterised by super-abundant Amphiura filiformis with Mysella bidentata and Abra nitida. This community occurs in muddy sands in moderately deep water (Hiscock 1984; Picton et al. 1994) and may be related to the 'off-shore muddy sand association' described by other workers (Jones 1951; Thorson 1957; Mackie 1990) and is part of the infralittoral etage described by Glemarec. This community is also characterised by the sipunculid Thysanocardia procera and the polychaetes Nephtys incisa, Phoronis sp. and Pholoe sp., with cirratulids also common in some areas. Other taxa such as Nephtys hombergii, Echinocardium cordatum, Nucula nitidosa, Callianassa subterranea and Eudorella truncatula may also occur in offshore examples of this biotope (e.g. Knitzer et al. 1992).

Situation

No situation data available.

Temporal variation

No temporal data available.

Similar biotopes

AfilNten may be distinguished from AfilMysAnit by the abundance of the characterising species Nuculoma tenuis in AfilNten and by the importance of other characterising species such as Thysanocardia procera and Nephtys incise in AfilMysAnit. AfilNten is also generally found in deeper water.

ThyNten may be distinguished from AfilMysAnit by the abundance of the characterising species Thyasira flexuosa and by the decreased abundance of Amphiura filiformis in ThyNten. ThyNten is generally found in deeper waters.

Characterising Species

Taxa

Frequency

Typical Abundance

% Contribution to similarity

Abundance (no.2)

Tubularia indivisa

R

2

Sagartiogeton undatus

R

2

Nemertea

P

1

47

Thysanocardia procera

P

4

129

Phascolion strombus strombus

R

2

Polychaeta

A

14

Aphrodita aculeata

R

2

Pholoe inornata

F

3

157

Nephtys hombergii

F

1

Nephtys incisa

P

5

97

Levinsenia gracilis

P

2

83

Cirratulidae

S

4

600

Chaetozone setosa

F

1

Tharyx

C

2

240

Tharyx

F

1

Diplocirrus glaucus

P

2

107

Pectinariidae

O

6

Lagis koreni

P

1

62

Melinna palmata

P

3

85

Lanice conchilega

R

5

Pariambus typicus

C

2

260

Pagurus bernhardus

O

11

Turritella communis

R

5

Mysella bidentata

A

22

1635

Abra nitida

S

11

838

Corbula gibba

P

1

49

Phoronis

A

2

121

Ophiuroidea

A

7

252

Amphiura chiajei

C

12

Amphiura filiformis

S

19

760

Amphiura filiformis

A

12

Ophiura ophiura

R

6

Example photographs of biotope

No characteristic photos currently available.
If you are able to provide a photograph of this biotope please contact
email address: comment_[AT SYMBOL]_jncc_DOT_gov_DOT_uk (replace _DOT_ with full stop/period and _[AT SYMBOL]_ with the usual @ symbol)
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Version 15.03 of the classification adds a deep-sea section to version 04.05; therefore superseding version 04.05, 97.06 and 03.02.